Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 66753 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 334(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66753 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 334(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Business is business, and this business is about Dash’s career. With a grit of my teeth, I rotate to face the group. Tyler and Dash are staring at me as if they were watching me leave in the first place, but it’s only Tyler’s attention that I feel. Only his attention that charges my anger. I don’t know how I thought this man cared about me. He’s all about his contract.
I’m done with him.
I meet his stare and I hope, I just hope, that the “done with him” message is exactly what my eyes tell him. I don’t know if it’s her personality or if she senses the tension in the room, but Debbie clears her throat and shifts from one foot to the other. “The studio is on the line early,” she explains to us all. “They wanted to find out if you can do the call early. One of their people has to leave town tonight rather unexpectedly apparently, but they’re eager to talk to Dash.”
“What do you say, brother?” I ask. “Can you stay positive and let us guide you through this?”
“I’m not sure I’m the problem in this particular meeting,” he replies dryly, “but yes. I can do my part. I’ve decided to do this true crime TV gig. I’m going to do it right.”
He will do it right. That’s what we were taught by Mom. If you’re going to do it—anything at all—do it to the best of your ability. And how you do one thing is how you do all things, be it putting the laundry up properly or attending to your job.
Tyler glances at Debbie. “Are we set-up?”
“We are,” she confirms. “We’re in your conference room. I’ll go tell them we’re ready in five.”
Tyler lifts his hand in approval and returns his attention to me and Dash. “Is there anything you want to talk through before we go live?” Tyler asks Dash.
Meanwhile, I am scolding myself for noticing Tyler’s hands and thinking a little too hard about them on my body. I hate how much I like his hands. They’re strong. They touch me like I matter even if I do not. I shake off the thought, and motion to Dash and then toward my office. “I need to grab my contract notes.”
I turn away and exit the lobby—this time without a delay—and hurry to my office. Morgan, the receptionist who I’ve been promising to interview as my assistant, appears in my doorway. “You seem stressed. What can I do? I can stay late if you need me to.”
I snatch the folder from the desk. “I appreciate that, Morgan, but I just don’t even have time to show you what to help with. But let’s have lunch tomorrow, and we can talk about my assistant’s job.”
Her eyes light. “Yes, please. I’d love that.”
“Great,” I say. “I do need help. Proven by the fact that I don’t even have time to interview. I appreciate your being patient with me. Right now, I have a Zoom meeting with a studio.”
“Oh, yes. I’ll get out of your hair but I’m looking forward to lunch.” She backs into the hallway.
I’m at the door when Dash appears in my path. “You okay?”
“Just peachy.” The icing on that bitter little statement is a bitter laugh, which I barely recognize as my own.
“I obviously can read between the lines. I know you and Tyler got involved.”
My eyes go wide. “Please tell me you didn’t say that to him, and why are you saying it to me right now?”
“So you won’t try and run away from me after the meeting. And, no, I didn’t say that to Tyler. Not yet. I wanted to talk to you first.”
“I’m still processing.”
“Bella—”
“Fine. I’ll tell you everything over waffles this weekend, but you and Allie have to come to me. I have Molly now.”
“I’m not waiting until weekend waffles. After the Zoom meeting, I’ll take you to dinner. It’s been too long since we had a dinner alone anyway.”
“I have to go home to Molly,” I argue.
“We can order pizza then, at your place. It’s really been too long a time since we did a one-on-one, Bella. This is the night to fix that.”
He’s not wrong. I love Allie, and she’s my brother’s heart, but we never do just us anymore. I actually really appreciate him realizing this before I did. “Okay, yes. That sounds fun. And you’re right, it’s been too long. Right now, let’s go work on your empire.”
He nods and backs away, but I say, “Dash.”
He steps close. “Yeah, little sis?”
“Sit between us.”
“Oh, I’ll sit between you, all right. That wasn’t even a question.”
I nod my appreciation and we exit to the hallway together. I don’t know what I’m going to tell Dash, but I know that right now, in this moment, I’m reminded of how lucky I am to share the bond I do with him. Also, I never got my cookie or latte.